Stripes and You: How to wear spring's hottest trend

Last time you saw a ton of stripes, you were 13 and watching Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street, cowering in the corner wondering why your cruel parents ever let you go to sleep. Or you were jamming while Lady Gaga got arrested in the Telephone video, counting the precious seconds until Beyonce showed up to melt your face.

Brace yourself, because your eyes are going to cross with stripes all spring. Stripes were one of the biggest trend takeaways in spring runway collections from Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Paul & Joe, Vivienne Westwood, Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino and a ton of others. They were black, they were white, they were orange, pink and green. They were horizontal and vertical, short, long and chevron. They were on pant suits and frilly dresses alike, lending a distinct 1990s supermodel sneer and chic Rikers Island flair to otherwise staid looks. Stripes! They're a blast!

That said, stripes are tricky. Even space aliens know it's better to stay in the house than draw a horizontal line across your widest part. And stripes can quickly overwhelm a frame or confuse the eyes if there's not some visual focus at play. We have some handy tips to make sure you look more "lion tamer" and less "big top" when you venture into stripes this spring.

Get on scale

No, not that scale. Throw that one against the wall. Now that that's out of the way, take respectful note of the size and shape of your body. If you're nice and tall with great shoulders, you can probably carry off a thicker, more dominant stripe pattern in bold black and white. The most leggy among you might like some striped tuxedo trousers, like these from Worthington, on sale for a mere $17 at JCPenney.

Be aware of your the lines of your body against the lines of the stripe. It's like... imagine draping a string of spaghetti on a nice cantaloupe. You get it. If the garment is made properly, it should have ample concessions for, as they say in middle school health class, "your changing body." Check out the seaming and directional changes of the stripes on this Coldwater Creek peplum dress, $99.95. Not a droopy pasta in sight.

Cinch it good

It's hard to advise anyone to wear horizontal stripes, you know, ever, but we are not such curmudgeons that we won't participate in the trend. We can be smart about it. The magic lies in definition. Bring a belt into the party at the smallest part of your waist. And look for pieces that address the problem, like this AB Studio dress from Kohl's, on sale for $32. Notice the how the midsection forms a flattering X-shape? That's not an accident. (Let's not talk about the dreaded cap sleeve, another topic for another blog.)

Blazers: Not just for the airport

Did anyone see the movie Ted? If you watch the DVD outtakes, there are a bunch of snipped jokes about how grown men wear blazers to the airport. HILARIOUS. And you know who else should wear blazers? People in stripes. The blazer will naturally create a vertical line against the horizontal lines, taking big chunks of side with it. We love a blazer, and we love Ted. The airport is OK, too. This lovely model from Forever 21 will model the idea with this $29.80 blazer. See how the long lines break up the stripe? When it comes to lines on your body, take control.

A shoe-in

If by now you're just like, "GET AWAY FROM ME WITH THIS SORCERY," you know what we're going to suggest. The best way to dabble in a trend without falling in deep is to try it on your feet. Fun flats like these from Sugar are guaranteed to flatter any tootsies. Just don't get arrested, and you will always control your own stripes.

About the bloggers

Looking for shopping deals in Tampa Bay? The Deal Divas are on the prowl, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. Now you never have to miss a shopping deal! Check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Disclaimer: The content of this blog is produced by the editorial staff of the Times and is not tied to advertising. E-mail us ideas you'd like us to write about.

Stephanie Hayes , addicted to heels for 15 years, has been experimenting with ballet flats, boots and cute sneakers lately. Her poor, tired feet thank her. She can never get enough animal print, and her eye shadow collection has become a bit of a hoard. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She knows a healthy swipe of red lipstick can make any outfit better. She can be reached at (813) 226-3394 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at (850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.